While Glastonbury isn’t running in 2018 that doesn’t mean there aren’t a whole host of other cool and quirky festivals to get stuck into this year. If it’s impossible to find anything that will suit your own, unique tastes, here’s a novel idea: host your own DIY festival!
Whether you’re lucky enough to own a plot of land that can accommodate it or just have a massive back garden that can hold a few tents, it’s a prime opportunity to make the most out of the outdoor space, fine weather and good vibes that the summer brings. With that in mind, here 5 IDEAL tips on how to organise your own mini festival.
MIND YOUR OWN SPACE
Space is the premium concern when planning a big party, let alone one which you can deem a ‘festival’. Therefore, it’s vital you toil over every available inch. Whip out that tape measure and plot out the diameters, circumferences, squared metres; the works. Map out precisely where everything’s going to go, or you may be confronted with people packed in like sardines, unable to dance to the expensively hired band or state-of-the-art sound system you’ve installed.
Including an area for a few tents will really give your space the festival vibe; we think an essential element of anything great festival is the staying over and slumming it, after all. Check out these bell tents from the guys over at Garden & Camping for a quality glamping experience.
MAKE SURE YOU RSVP
They say that ‘if you build it, they will come’ – well, if they don’t know anything about it, then that particular quote may be disproved. Do some research around dates (nobody wants to be clashing with a major event around town!), then pick one and stick to it. Alternatively, you could piggyback on the back of an event – like a birthday or anniversary. Nothing says ‘I love you’ quite like giving someone a huge event in their honour.
You can either make it public by selling tickets to anyone and everyone or just invite friends and family. If you stick with the former, it may be an idea to donate your earnings to charity after you cover the spend for the setup – keeping up with the spirit of Glastonbury and contributing to all round good karma.
BE SAVVY FINANCIALLY
Obviously, it’s going to be a struggle to budget for an event of significant size and spectacle, but there are ways and means to keep things sensible and not overly frivolous. Plan everything meticulously; from catering, performers, facilities, maybe even the odd portaloo, every little helps (and mounts up) so be as thorough as possible.
BOOKING YOUR BANDS
What is a music festival without a quality live music? You won’t have professional music festival money, but you better believe there will be hungry bands around your town that would be more than happy to play a gig. Make sure you pay them, though. Musicians have got to eat, and here’s nothing worse than trying to coerce an artist with ‘free exposure’. You wouldn’t want to work for free, so don’t assume they would; and the show is more likely to be full of enthusiasm and energy if respect is shown by both sides.
BE CONSIDERATE OF OTHERS
If your plot of land has people in living nearby, then it’s crucial that you let them know about it beforehand – maybe even offer them an invite! To be extra safe make sure that you’re obeying the local noise pollution laws if the event is going to go on late – and let’s be honest, what festival doesn’t? Nothing ruins a party quite like local police having to pay a visit to tell you to keep it down, so keep one step ahead on that count.
